Ireland still a sponging basket case

strathspey

I thought Ireland had become a net contributer to EU funds in 2006, obviously not!

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/taoiseach-hits-out-at-cameron-over-eu-budget-cap-2400581.html

"Ireland is still a net beneficiary from the EU budget, handing over €1.5bn to Brussels in 2009, but getting back €1.8bn -- most of this in farm aid."

Scofflaw

Details here, tables 10 and 11:

From the EU: €1,810.8 million
To the EU: €1,486.3 million

Breakdown:

European Agricultural Guidance& Guarantee Fund (FEOGA): €0.7m
European Agriculture Guarantee Fund (EAGF): €1,319m
EAGF Rural Development: €329.2m
European Social Fund: €42.8m
European Regional Development Fund: €57.7m
Cohesion Fund: €22.9m
Other: €38.4m

So, yes, 91% agriculture.

cordially,
Scofflaw

pablo_escobar

Paying farmers not to be farmers.. makes perfect sense to me.

ashleey

We are paying them to protect the environment, surely?

Scofflaw

There's no longer any such thing as 'set-aside' - farmers are subsidised on the basis of complying with good land conditions, public, animal and plant health standards as well as environmental requirements.

cordially,
Scofflaw

PanchoVilla

So why don't we just keep the €1.3 billion and deal with our own agriculture? Why are we giving the EU so much money just so they can give it back to us with conditions? Why don't they just give the Dept. of Agriculture a list of what conditions we're required to meet and let us take care of our own business instead of wasting millions on administration costs?

PanchoVilla

Scofflaw wrote: »

There's no longer any such thing as 'set-aside' - farmers are subsidised on the basis of complying with good land conditions, public, animal and plant health standards as well as environmental requirements.

cordially,
Scofflaw

Eh, that's not entirely true.

The farmers must also set aside part of their land, except land used for organic production or for materials not intended for human or animal consumption.

http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_eagf.php

Scofflaw

PanchoVilla wrote: »

Eh, that's not entirely true.



http://www.2007-2013.eu/by_scope_eagf.php

Abolished in the CAP Health Check in 2008:

Abolition of set-aside: The requirement for arable farmers to leave 10 percent of their land fallow is abolished. This will allow them to maximise their production potential.

Source

cordially,
Scofflaw